A CHARITY working with disadvantaged families has had a grant of nearly £3,000 approved by councillors.

A £2,820 grant was awarded to Home-Start Wessex at a Finance and Governance committee meeting of Weymouth Town Council.

Sally Smith of the charity attended the committee meeting to talk about the grant application.

Home-Start Wessex has just expanded into Weymouth, providing early intervention work offering support, friendship, and practical help to disadvantaged families with at least one child under five.

This grant will help support three families in Weymouth with one-to-one home visiting support.

It comes after the closure of Home-Start West Dorset in the area last year, which supported vulnerable families in the Weymouth area.

Ms Smith said: "We are new to Weymouth.

"We have been running for over 28 years as an independent charity, separate to Home-Start West Dorset, we supported over 400 families last year.

"Home-Start West Dorset (HSWD) closed on October 31 so we have expanded into Weymouth.

"We have managed to reach out and get in touch with families who were supported by HSWD.

"Existing volunteers based in Weymouth are transferring from HSWD and we will recruit and train new volunteers so that we can provide one-to-one support to vulnerable families in Weymouth.

"We are stepping up to fill the gap where they are no longer in the town, the more families we help the more money we need."

Some councillors raised concerns about spending £3,000 on three families.

Cllr Graham Lambert said: "We are talking about £3,000 for three families, I can see why this is needed. I am unhappy so much money is going to such a small number of beneficiaries."

Cllr Ken Whatley also said: "I am worried about giving this money for six months for three families, you say you will fundraise, will you be able to sustain it after six months?"

Ms Smith assured the committee members that the money was worthwhile.

She said: "The cost for families works out at £900 for six months, which includes working with the families, and training volunteers.

"It does make a real difference, two or three hours a week every week. We always have families come back and say we have made a real difference."

Cllr Ryan Hope said: "I do support this project as a councillor for one of the most deprived wards in Weymouth. I can guarantee you will be supporting residents in that area, I would like to personally thank you and your volunteers for your hard work."

Cllr David Gray said: "Early intervention is a way of reducing spending in future years if you get in early to stop this.

"I am comfortable with that and over six months it is £150 a week so it isn't a lot of money when you break it down."

The grant was supported by the committee members.